Daily Devotional for Thursday April 27, 2000

The Real Tragedy Of Elian Gonzales

(Matthew 19:14) In spite of the wall-to-wall coverage over the last 5 months of the Elian Gonzales story, especially since the government's pre-Easter raid last weekend, I want to share with you what the real tragedy of this story is. It has been my immediate concern since the story broke and is an aspect that I promise you has not been explored or discussed on any of the vast media coverage of this event. The real tragedy of this whole episode has nothing to do with parental rights, or with politics, but is spiritual. You see, to understand this tragedy, you must first know that Cuba is an atheistic society, and by Castro's design, void of God. Unlike in our great country where parents exercise their rights in raising their children, that is not the case in Cuba. A father DOES NOT have control over his children, the government does, which is why the whole father's rights aspect of this saga is so ridiculous. At age 11, a Cuban child is sent off to school to learn how to be a good communist, and is taught that there is no such thing as God. I was impressed with the Pope's visit to Cuba and pray that his courage in going there will be rewarded with lives God was able to reach, but from Castro's standpoint, it was merely a symbolic gesture since he has removed God from the daily life of his people. This is the world Elian Gonzales will return to with his father. Lost in all of the hype and political rhetoric of the tragedy has been the understanding by those in the Cuban exile community of this fact. Many have not only found freedom and opportunity in this country, but they have found a relationship with God that they never would have had in Cuba. Their passions have centered on the fact that if this boy is returned to Castro, his opportunity to know God could be lost. The irony to me has been the involvement of the United Methodist Church and the National Council of Churches in defending Castro. I grew up in the United Methodist Church, was saved in the United Methodist Church, and have preached in many of their churches over the years. The liberal arm of that denomination founded by Charles Wesley and greatly used by God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, has influenced many of it's churches to question the inspiration of Scripture and preach a message far different than what that great church was built on. I just pray that in it's dealings with the Cuban side of this tragic situation, someone took the opportunity to share Christ with Elian's father and wife. The one thing we do know, is that those Miami relatives and faithful men and women of God who came to that house each day, made sure Elian knew there was a creator of the universe named God. I have never used this forum to express any of my political views. That is not the purpose of this Devotional, and I have tried to temper my comments and keep them on point today. I apologize if my position on this matter may be in contrast to yours. As much as I take objection to many of the things that have gone on in our government over the last 7 years, my Bible says that I am to pray for those in authority over me. God placed them there, so I have to trust His wisdom and I do faithfully pray for those in power daily. The key point today is our scripture and Jesus telling the adults not to hinder the children from coming to Him. I pray today that those words will echo in the hearts of everyone who will be involved in the eventual outcome over the next weeks and months. I am still praying, still believing that little Elian will not be sent back to be taught by Castro that there is no God, but be able to stay here and be in an environment where one day those precious seed that have been planted in his life the last 5 months will spring forth Instead of Elian Gonzales being lost for eternity, his soul will know God's gift of everlasting life as he comes to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and savior. Amen.